What do you think is the most important invention EVER? (REVIVAL)

After seeing the "What do you think is the worst invention is history?" thread by AD5673, I decided to see if I could revive my old thread from October 2003 titled "What do you think are the most important inventions EVER?"

Seeing that I got a good response then, maybe I can get an even better one NOW.

MAKE SURE TO POST ALL NEW RESPONSES IN THIS NEW THREAD!!! (NOT THE OLD ONE!)
(The old thread is being posted for reference. Here's the old thread: )
www.belowtopsecret.com...
The old thread was originally in the "Chit-Chat" forum and got moved when BTS was created. I'm trying to bring it back to ATS by reviving it here in the "Science & Technology" forum.

I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY AND RESPOND! (in THIS thread!

)

w00t.

[STAY COOL)
-prophetmike

EDIT: If I seemed like an idot in the older thread (by posting too much, or by trying to press an idea, or getting people to post), please excuse me. I was quite the n-e-w-b-i-e back then! I (hopefully) have changed. Thank you.

EDIT: 5/14/04 - I changed the name of the thread.

[Edited on 14-5-04 by prophetmike]

sliced bread, for sure, no doubt

Is this the most important human invention? Can it be a pre-human one? Like tools?

If it can, I'd say tools.

If not, I'd say fire.

Originally posted by glee
Is this the most important human invention? Can it be a pre-human one? Like tools?

It originally (in the old thread) was meant to be for humanity. I've decided to let loose and say that it can be ANYTHING.

Even things that ANIMALS have done... if you can find any.



[STAY COOL)
-prophetmike

The most important development in nature was the opposable thumb second id say is the prefrontal cortex
as for technology i'd have to say the printing press and the cathode ray tube

Fire, paper, and plastic.

...oh, and toast.

Diapers without pins is high on my list.
(Safety pins were great until people started using them for diapers.)

Door locks are convenient. (As long as you don't loose the key.)

Refrigerators/freezers have helped a great deal. (Otherwise we couldn't keep out frozen food frozen. And our ice cream would melt.)

Waterproof matches that strike anywhere. (You can go swimming and have a cigarette)

Bottled water is nice. (We can go anywhere in America and pay a buck for a bottle of water we could have gotten free at home.)

Traffic jams! (They remind us all to slow down and take it easy.)

This list is getting too long. You can add anything that doesn't constitute a giant leap for mankind, but causes no mass destruction.

G

The Printing Press

Before this remarkable wonder, you'd ahve to read handwritten books, and large volumes of books couldn't be broduced this way. Without it, the Industrial Age would have never happened. Other countries died out, mostly because their information could nto be uniformly given from one generation to the next. Oh, yeah, and we wouldn't be able to hold silly arguments over thie internet.

My secondaries: Computer/Internet, Agricultural machines--America overproduces form it, and Israel can GROW food b/c of it.

What about the wheel?? :-)

also the internet.

Harnessing electricity.

I thought reviving this thread would help to get people into this question. As I look to the other, very successful opposing thread, titled "What do you think is the worst invention is history?" by AD5673, I just thought maybe people would want to share their thoughts on what they think is the most important invention ever.

I mean, there can't be one without the other.

My vote for BEST INVENTION EVER goes to... the printing press. My vote has changed since the older thread, as I've actually put thought into this answer.

[STAY COOL)
-prophetmike

[Edited on 14-5-04 by prophetmike]

The most important invention ever is the ELECTRIC GUITAR! Hands down.

It would have to be porn lol oh wait, porn isn't an invention *sighs*. Ok i'll be serious now.The greatest invention is the computer

[Edited on 14-5-2004 by infinite]

Originally posted by jlc163
The Printing Press

I agree with you completely on this one. Books, newspapers, etc. The beginning of information and knowledge.

I would say farming and the raising and domesticating of farm animals as a food source. It was the beginning of an organized society; it allowed humans to come together in permanent settlements and think of things other than day to day survival. It gave them time to create, invent and philosophize which lead to a different way of thinking. It made all inventions after this time possible.

I have said it before.... Beer, Chicken Vindaloo, and Velcro...

Ok, no idea how velcro fits in, but it is such cool stuff......

Since we didn't invent electricity or fire..... I have gotta continue with the transistor. It is probably the greatest invention of the twentieth century...

There is no greatest invention ever, IMO, because you can never stop progress, and if, say, the wheel was never invented, it would of been invented later, or by some other culture.

Well, so far, I think anti-biotics in general. I dont think anything else has saved as many lives, even if they are over perscibed now and we are becoming immune.

Originally posted by Bleys
I agree with you completely on this one. Books, newspapers, etc. The beginning of information and knowledge.

I never gave a reason as to WHY I chose the printing press, but this is pretty much it. The beginning of the information era started with the coming of the printing press.

w00t! I SO LOVE THAT INVENTION!!!

[STAY COOL)
-prophetmike